Fence-machine



m5 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

N. J. TUBBS. FENCE MACHINE.

No. 549,946. Patented Nov. 19, 1895.

,u 2 pa ANDREW BBRMIAM. PHOTO-LITHU- WASKINGTON. 0.6

(No Model.) 7 2 sheets Sl leet 2. N. J. TUBES.

} FENCE MACHINE. N0.549,946. A v Patented Nov. 19, 1895.

wM mwow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELSON J. TUBES, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

FENCE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 549,946, dated November19, 1895. Application filed February 25, 1895. Serial No. 539,662. (Nomodel.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NELSON J. TUBBs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Machines; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to made and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in fence-machines and the inventionconsists in the combination of a frame carrying an endless chain,sprocket-wheels operated by said chain, Wire-twisters pivoted in saidsprocketwheels so as to allow the machine to remain perpendicular nomatter What inclination the wires may assume, and means for operatingtheendless chain.

It also consists in the combination of a bar,

, sprocket-Wheels adjustably mounted at each end of the same, an endlesschain passed about said wheels and bar, wire-twisters operated by saidchain and being capable of being slipped off the wires at will, meansfor operating said chain, and a wheel attached to the lower end of saidbar.

It also consists in the combination of a frame carrying an endlesschain, sprocketwheels operated thereby, wire twisters mounted in saidsprocket-wheels, means for operating the sprocket-chain, and awirestretcher and tension-varying device connected to said wires.

It also consists in certain other novel constructions, combinations, andarrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter more particularly setforth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of mywire-twisting device. Fig. 2 represents a central vertical section ofthe same. Fig. 3 represents a detail end elevation of the upper end ofthe frame carrying the adjustable sprocketwheel. Fig. 4 represents adetail side elevation of the lower end of the frame carrying thetraction and sprocket wheels. Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of thedevices embodying my invention as they appear during the construction ofa fence. Fig. 6 is a detail central vertical section through one of thesprocket wheels carrying the pivoted wire-twister, also showing thesprocket-casting and fence-pickets. Fig. 7 represents .a top plan Viewof the same. Fig. 8 represents a side elevation of the wire-stretcherand tension device. Fig. 9 represents the same with the end of one ofthe pivoted arms broken away' to expose the winding-drum and itsratchet-wheel and ratchet. Fig. 10 represents a top plan View of saidwire-stretcher and tension device, and Fig. 11 represents a sideelevation of the key for operating the ratchet-wheel of the combinedwire-stretcher and tension device.

A in the drawings represents the bar forming the frame of my machine; B,the endless sprocket-chain; O C, the sprocket-Wheels supporting saidchain; DDD the sprocketwheels carrying the pivoted twisters 5 E, theoperating-handle for actuating the endless chain, and F thewire-stretching and tension device.

The bar A is preferably made of wood and is provided at each end with alongitudinal slot a, said slots being adapted to receive the respectiveshanks c c of the castings G G that support the sprocket-wheels O O.

The casting G is provided with a yoke,within which the wheel C ismounted, and the shank c of said casting is slotted at f, so that thebolts g, that confine the shank in the slot a, will not prevent thecasting G from being adjusted either up or down. The cast-ing G issimilar tocasting G, except that its yoke is at right angles to the yokein the casting G and has a traction-wheel H mounted therein, thesprocket-wheel 0 being mounted in a slot h intermediate of said yoke andthe shank c. The endless chain is passed about the sprockets C 0, thuscausing it to lie about said bar on opposite sides thereof.

The sprocket-wheels D D D are respect ively mounted in castings I, whichare each composed of two circular parts provided with attaching-armsi,'said parts being adapted to be attached to the opposite sides of thebar A and be bolted together at their outer edges,and thus inclose theirrespective sprocket-wheels between them.

Each one of the sprocket-wheels is composed of a rim K,provided withsprocket-teeth k, annular lateral flanges it, and laterallyextendingbuffers 10 The rim K is adapted to be confined between the parts of thecasting 1, and thus prevent lateral motion of said wheels, while theannular flanges 7c prevent vertical movement of said wheels.

\Vithin each sprocket is pivotally mounted a wire-twisting device M,which consists of a bar provided with journals m and with lateralprojections m 171 the latter being mounted on the bar so as to lie toone side of the surface of the same, so that when the wires are passedalong on the outer surface of the projection m they will be behind theinner surfaces of the projections m and said wires are thus held firmlyon the bar. The sprocketwheels are so mounted in their castings thattheir inner peripheries always engage the endless chain, and they arethereby operated in either one direction or the other, according to themovement of the chain, and as said sprocket-wheels revolve the wires aretwisted together by means of the pivoted bars.

The rims of each of the sprocket-wheels D D D as well as the circularcastings I, are provided with a narrow slit or passage j, and when saidpassages of the wheel and casting are in coincidence, as shown in Fig.2, the machine can be readily slipped on or off the fence-wires.

The operating-handle E is mounted 011 a shaft e, which carries asprocket-wheel e, that meshes with the chain 13, said shaft beingmounted in a casing E, attached to the bar A.

The wire-stretching and tension device, as shown in Figs. 8, J, and 10,is composed of two pivoted arms 0 and 0', the forward or longer portionsof these arms being provided with projecting studs 0 between which thewire is strung in a zigzag manner, so as to cause con siderable frictionin moving, and thus the wires are pulled between said studs undertension. The inner and outer stud 011 each arm is provided with a smalllateral projection that guides the wire fairly onto the stud and keepsit from slipping therefrom. If it is desired to increase the tension onthe wires, the arms 0 0' are spread apart and held so by a wedge 10 orother similar device.

The shorter end of the arm 0 is provided with a stud p, on which ismounted a wirestretching drum P, provided with a ratchetwheel P, adaptedto be engaged by a gravitypawl p.

A wire Q, attached to any stationary object, is passed once or twiceabout the drum and then is wound thereon, as occasion requires, by meansof a key R, as shown in Fig. 11,which key is applied to theratchet-wheel to turn the same.

A handle S is provided upon the upper part of the bar A, by which themachine may be held firmly in position when being operated.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The l'nachine is set up inposition, as shown in Fig. 5, with the traction-wheel H upon a board orother suitable base, the pairs of wires in their respective twisters andthe tension devices adjusted to give the desired tension. The machine isrun back a short distance and a picket inserted between the wires. Themachine is then run forward until the buffers k strike the picket andforce it up snugly to the last twist in the wire. The handle E is thenrotated to the right, and the desired distance thus twisted behind thepicket, the wires in the meantime feeding through the tension device,but under tension, so that the wire is always kept taut. The next picketis inserted and the operation repeated as before, with the exceptionthat thehandle in this instance is rotated toward the left, and so 011alternately from right to left, as each successive picket is inserted.

It will be seen that as the chain B becomes loose the bolts g at eitherthe top or the bottom can be loosened and the sprocket-wheels C Cadjusted away from each other, and thus tighten the chain.

It will also be observed that by having the twisters M pivoted in thesprocket-wheels I) D D the machine, and consequently the pickets, canalways be kept perpendicular, even though the wires be inclined one wayor the other because of a hill or the like. This I consider a veryimportant feature of my invention, as by it hills can be fenced withvertical pickets with as much ease as the fencing of level ground.

Any size or shape pickets can be inserted in my fence, either half orwhole pickets. In fact, even brushwood or the like could be woveninto'the wires, if so desired.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. I11 a fence machine, the combination of a f 'ame carrying an endlesschain, sprocket wheels mounted on said frame and operated by said chain,wire twisters adapted to positivcly engage or grip the wires, andpivoted in said sprocket wheels so as to revolve therewith but always onan axis parallel with the wires no matter what the inclination of saidsprocket wheels may be, and means for operating the endless chain,substantially as described.

2. In a fence machine, the combination of a frame carrying an endlesschain, sprocket wheels mounted on said frame and operated by said chain,wire twisters adapted to positively engage or grip the wires and pivotedin said sprocket wheels so as to revolve therewith but always on an axisparallel with the wires no matter what the inclination of said sprocketwheels maybe, means for operating the endless chain, and an adj ustablewire stretcher and tension device, substantially as described.

3. I11 a fence machine, the combination of a frame carrying an endlesschain, sprocket wheels formed of split rings, suitable mountin gsconnecting said wheels with said frame, wire engaging and grippingdevices pivotal] y mounted in said split rings so as to revolvetherewith but always on an axis parallel with the wires no matter whatthe inclination of said rings may be, and means for operating theendless chain, substantially as described.

4. In a fence machine,the combination with wire twisting devices, of awire stretcher and tension device consisting of two pivoted armsprovided with studs adapted to allow the wires to pass between themunder tension and means for increasing or decreasing the distancebetween said arms whereby the tension on the wires is increased ordecreased.

5. A wire stretcher and tension device for a fence machine, comprisingin its construction two pivoted arms provided with studs NELSON J.TUBES.

\Vitnesses:

RICHARD O. EDWARDS, M. F. CALDWELL.

